Weekly Bulletin

COMPACT

St John the Apostle Parish
         A Missionary of the Sacred Heart Parish           

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time              Year B 
24 January 2021                                    #9.21 

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Reflection

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The People of God

Christian conversion is not a once-in-a-lifetime moment. It can happen every day in a rich variety of ways. It involves a change in attitude as much as a change in lifestyle.

All three readings show a different facet of conversion. Jonah calls the Ninevites to social conversion. St Paul, who reveals a very strong expectation that the end of time is near, calls the people of Corinth to a conversion of mind. And through relating the call of Simon, Andrew, James and John, St Mark tells us about personal conversion.

These days we regularly hear God’s call in a personal dynamic. It’s sometimes called ‘me and God’ theology. Modern hymns reflect it best. We regularly sing about how Jesus died ‘for me’, or that ‘here I am Lord’ or that ‘I will follow you’. Individually these lines are all true, the problem is that they tend to play down the more ancient and biblical social dimensions of our call to conversion. In the Bible even though God and Jesus call people to conversion through personal relationships, there is no hint that this is where it stops. Every call leads to the wider community, to the people of Israel in the Old Testament, and out to the entire world in the New Testament.

Today’s readings provide a litmus test for our conversion. If our faith has become a self-help club, where we talk about ‘my’ God, ‘my’ prayers, ‘my’ Church, ‘my’ Mass, we are in need of conversion. We don’t need to leave God’s personal love for us behind, we just need to see it as a necessary preparation for belonging to the people of God as we engage with the world at every level. We are challenged to reject the idea that it’s me-and-God-against-the-world, and welcome in the idea that it’s US-and-God-IN-the-world.

Resource used: Fr. Richard Leonard SJ. – LiturgyHelp

 

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 Jesus is Religion

Jesus is the supreme and infinite glory of God, the unique revelation of his infinite goodness, the universal Eucharist and the permanent ecstasy of creation in God. To sum up in a word what is itself A summary, we would say that Jesus is religion, religion par excellence, living and infinite. Once more, it is above all to the Heart of Jesus that we have to give this title. 
Doesn’t religion mean a bond? 
and what bond, if not the bond of love, the only one that can bind spirits together? Isn’t it love? Thus, in everything, the Sacred heart is the last word. Everything leads back to Jesus: I am the beginning and the end. And in Jesus, everything leads back to his Heart.

 Jules Chevalier msc, 
(Le Sacré-Coeur de Jésus, p.76 Paris, 1900)

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved……….forever! 
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Stewardship

Our readings today focus on the vital attributes of being a disciple of Christ.   

Imagine Jesus asking you, “What are you looking for?" We might respond with answers like a better job, more kids, retirement, or any number of things that we think will make our lives better. The things we seek may be righteous, but as disciples of Christ, we should first and foremost seek the Kingdom of God. If we strive to respond to Jesus’ question in the same way the first disciples responded, essentially by asking, “Where are you, Lord?” then we will not be disappointed with the outcome. 

Our calling is to be missionary disciples — to seek the Lord and share what we have found. Our faith is a gift! We should strive to share this gift with others.

Stewardship Reflections from TheCatholicSteward.com

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NOTICES
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Parish Office Closed  

Tuesday 26 January 2021

Australia Day Public Holiday

 Blessing of Candles

 The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord 

 Tuesday 2 February 2021 9:30am Mass

 You are invited to bring your prayer candle to mass. The “blessing of candles ceremony” will take place during the mass. Your candle can be placed on the table in the foyer before mass. You will then collect your blessed candle at the conclusion of mass.

KIT – The parishioners forum

Tell us your stories.

KIT will continue in 2021 as a monthly production. We are seeking contributions from parishioners. KIT is the parishioner’s forum – it is your stories and reflections that keep KIT going. Please send your contributions to kippax@cg.org.au by Monday 25 January. Thank you.

 

 

Relax, Review, Reflect 
Faith and film
Friday 26 February at 7:30pm

We are watching: “An Interview with God”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there are limited places. You will need to contact the Parish Office to register on 6254 3236 or kippax@cg.org.au

 

 We are experiencing issues with GRAPEVINE EMAILS.

In the past week when we have sent out emails the GRAPEVINE emails have bounced.
We will continue to monitor the situation.

Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick 

is celebrated on the last Friday of each month after the 9:30am mass.

Next anointing will be 29 January.

 

SJA Men’s Group

Meeting Monthly 
6:00pm – 8:00pm

For more informatin contact the parish office.

First gathering for 2021:
Friday 19 February

St John the Apostle Parish Centre

The February Book

We are reading: “The Beekeeper of Alleppo”   By Christy Lefteri

Parish Library – 21^st February - 3:00pm

  

 

Pins & Needles Craft Group

 Monday 15 February

7:15pm Parish Library

 

2021 Calendar

 

January
Tuesday 26	Australia Day Holiday
Friday 29	Anointing after Mass

February

Monday 1	School Returns
Tuesday 2	The Presentation of the Lord Blessing of the Candles
Friday 5	Eucharistic Adoration
Monday 15	Pins & Needles
17	Ash Wednesday
Friday 19	Men’s Group
Mon 22- Fri 26	Frs. Kimi and Michael Away

 

 

 

RCIA [Rite of Christian Initiation of an Adult].
will re-commence on Tuesday 2 February. Perhaps you know someone who is interested in becoming a Catholic? 
Come and See John 1:39

 

 

Wanted: Parish couples interested in deepening their own relationship in order to help other couples deepen theirs.

The Archdiocese is offering The Marriage Course

7-week course delivered via Zoom. 

Commences Tues 9th February 2021

cost $70 per couple.

The course is designed to help couples build strong foundations, learn to communicate more effectively and resolve differences well. For more details and to register visit https://mailchi.mp/b4c3fdd09d6a/tmc21 or contact

Steph Ransom steph.ransom@cg.org.au

 

SJACare  

Supporting parishioners in our community

During this time of COVID-19 many parishioners are still staying safe at home.

If you, or if you know of anyone who is staying at home due to the pandemic, or generally housebound and would like to receive Holy Communion or a pastoral visit please contact the parish office. 

Enrollments will take place in the foyer after the 10am Mass on 7^th and 14^th February 

BOOKING FOR WEEKEND MASSES

 

To assist the parish office manage COVID-19 regulations we need parishioers to do two things.
               1. Use CBR App 
               2. Use Trybooking to register 
1. CBR App helps ACT Health with tracking the spread of Coronavirus. 

2. Trybooking registration for attendance at mass assists the Parish office in the management of numbers allowed to attend Mass within the available space in the church whilst maintaining physical distancing of 2 square metres. 

1. 

We need you to use both. Please register for Mass using the TryBooking link and sign in using the CBR App and the sign in sheet

Let us pray for those who are sick.